Secrets

Episode 6

I walked into first period early Monday morning and sat down in my usual spot, in the back right corner, far from the front where the teacher stands throughout the class yet close to the door so I can leave as soon as the bell rings. I share first period with Nick and Harry and we all have our designated seats next to each other. Usually it's the boys sitting behind me because they like to use me as a wall so they can scroll on their phones once class starts. "Sup Jade" Nick greets as he sits down next to me. "Hey Nick" I reply casually. "How was your weekend?" Nick asked with a smirk on his face. I couldn't help but roll my eyes, "it was fine thanks for asking" I said tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. 

"Bullshit, spill the tea Jade, I want to know everything!" Nick said leaning on his knees towards me. Before I could reply, Harry walked in sitting behind me, "has she said anything yet? If so, start over" Harry demanded. I gave him a small glare, "it's nice to know that good news travels fast, there's not much to say boys, it was just brunch" I said dryly. They both glanced at each other then back at me, without them saying a word they made their case. "Okay fine! It was so cute, I had a really good time, we talked and laughed and he brought me a rose and paid for the food I felt butterflies, he texted me that night and told me the sweetest thing on this earth" I pulled out my phone and showed them the text message. "I really wanna go on another date, I feel like I want to take a risk with him, it may be too soon to say but going on another date can't be the worst idea, right?" I said hopefully, before they could say a word I added in, "and before we said goodbye, he gave me a kiss" I blurted. Their eyes grew and their jaws dropped. "On the cheek! He gave me a kiss on the cheek!" I stated. 

They still seemed shocked and shared glances, almost like they were talking with their eyes leaving me out of the conversation. "What?" I asked. "Nothing" Harry said leaning back in his seat. I looked at Nick, "Jade, we've known each other for a long time, and we have all become really close, and as friends we want to look out for each other, that being said, we want to give you some pointers as you start your dating phase" Nick said seriously. I took a breath and looked back at him motioning him to continue. "We know how guys think, and we know what guys' actions really mean, not to say that this dude is playing you or anything it's the first date, all guys are going to be on their best behavior to win you over as soon as possible, and by the looks of it you are already falling kinda hard" Harry said. "Just, be careful, don't show him your head over heels for him, show interest, but not that you'd be willing to go meet his parents tomorrow" Nick said. "We know you're experiencing a whole bunch of things right now cause it's your first time putting yourself out there, but this is just something you want to keep in mind." Harry said. 

I let the words sink in and they were right, I may have been getting ahead of myself, "and, one more thing, Ashley is going to make everything this guy does seem like the best thing in the world, that's just Ashley, she's a sucker for any kind of affection and gesture, but don't let it all get to your head" Nick said. I nodded staying silent, these words hit me like a brick. "Thanks guys, I'm glad I have friends like you guys" I said smiling at them, Harry gave me a firm pat on the shoulder and Nick squeezed my hand. "That's what friends are for" Nick said 

**End Of School Day** 

I was finishing up sorting out what books to keep in my locker and which to take home for assignments when Ashley walked up to me, "Adrian and I are going to watch a movie tonight, want to come?" Ashley said smiling at me excitedly. I chucked, "thanks for the offer but I think I'll stay home, third wheeling isn't my thing" I said shutting my locker. I heard Ashley groan a little, "you won't be third wheeling silly, Axel will come" she said confidently. I sighed, the conversation I had with Nick and Harry was all I could think of throughout the whole day. Maybe I needed some space from Axel to get my head straight and know what I'm actually doing before leading this guy on. "I don't think so Ash, I think I should stay home today, it may be a little too soon for me to see him" I said beginning to walk towards the school's exit. Ashley was hot on my heels, "what do you mean?! I thought everything went well between you two? He says he's dying to see you again Jade" Ashley said stopping me in my tracks. I looked at her as she pulled her phone from her back pocket, I stayed silent and shortly she had her phone up to my face showing me a conversation between the two of them. 

It was mainly Axel asking about me, what I was doing, if I was with her, and when he could see me again, all from yesterday and today. I raised an eyebrow looking back at her, "he says that you're not that responsive with him during the day" she said scrolling down on her phone to show me the text message, 

A: She hasn't answered my text :'( 

A: I don't think she's that into me, but she's all I can think about 

A: I really want to make this work 

I met her gaze after reading the text messages, she texted him back explaining that I was in different classrooms with her but as soon as she saw me she should talk to me about it. "Why haven't you replied to him Jade? Is everything okay?" She asked concerned. I sighed looking down at my phone, Sage had texted me letting me know he would get here in the next 25 minutes because of traffic. I pulled on Ashley's arm leading her outside to the benches where we sat the other day when Axel came. Once we had both sat down I sighed and began, "it's not that there's something wrong Ash, it's just, you know that I don't take my phone out during classes, I never have and don't plan on doing it for a boy" I said sternly. "Okay, that's reasonable, but what about in between classes? Lunch? Bathroom breaks? Homeroom? You have some spare time throughout the day to send back a text" She said matter of factly. 

"True, but I just had other stuff on my mind today, he isn't exactly my top priority at the moment" I said shrugging. "I'm not saying to make him your top priority but at least reply to the guy, you seemed to like him a whole lot not too long ago, what made you change?" Ashley asked suspicious. I looked away not wanting to lie to her face. "Nothing, school just has me a little stressed. I do like him Ashley but I'm new at this, you know that, I don't want to get carried away and end up high and dry" I said looking back at her. She sighed, "I know it's a little intimidating Jade and you don't have to rush into anything, take it step by step, he seems to really like you and I'm sure he'll respect your pace if you tell him to, and besides, you have me, your best friend, I won't let you get hurt" she said rubbing my arm. I smiled at her, "I've never seen you get this giddy and excited over something, let alone someone, I'm sorry if I'm being too pushy or pressuring you, I'm just really excited. You're my best friend, you're like my little sister" she teased giving me a playful hug. "By a couple of months Ashley" I laughed. "That's irrelevant. Anyways, love is such a wonderful thing, and I want someone to cherish you like you should be, you're so inspiring and motivational, always hitting the books hard, getting good grades, following the rules, you deserve someone who will spoil you and take care of you in a way Sage can't" she explained. 

I smiled at the thought, of Axel and I being happy, him spoiling me constantly, giving me princess treatment, checking up on me, going on dates with me frequently. That would be heavenly, but I knew deep down it couldn't be like that in the real world. "I get where you're coming from, I'm not saying I don't want Axel in my life, maybe I need to take baby steps with him to get more comfortable" I said. She smiled widely, "say less, I will make it happen" she said tapping her hand on the table. As if on cue, Sage's car pulled up, I looked back at Ashley and gave her a hug, "I'll take that movie date tonight" I whispered into her ear discreetly. I could feel her body tense in excitement but she refrained from showing it knowing it would blow our cover with Sage. "Text me later" she whispered back. We both walked to the parking lot and she hopped in her car waving to Sage, he waved from inside the car as I was getting in. "Sorry for being late, I should've left the house earlier I forgot it was Monday rush hour" Sage said annoyed. 

I smiled at him, "it's okay I don't mind, Ashley and I were just talking about a couple of things" I said buckling my seatbelt. "Speaking of, Ashley's going to the movies tonight, I was wondering if I could go too?" I said staring at him. He looked back at me for a split second then turned his attention to the road. "What time is the movie?" He asked. "I think we're still looking into that, she's going to text me the details in a bit, I just wanted to mention it first" I said. "Who's going?" He asked stopping at a red stop light turning his head to look at me. "It'll just be me and Ashley, maybe Nick and Harry will tag along but I'm not too sure about it" He gave it some thought for a couple of minutes staying quiet. Sage has made an exception, as he likes to call it, towards Harry and Nick. Only because he's met them and because back in middle school he new that they would stick up for me with people who liked to pick on me, which happened almost on a daily basis. 

"You can go if it's before my shift, I want to drive you there myself and you need to tell me who will be dropping you off" he said. I smiled excitedly and quickly pulled out my phone to let both Ashley and Axel know. "You've got a deal!" I said. We pulled into the driveway of the house and I ran upstairs to start picking out an outfit when I heard my phone chime, 

A: After today, I can't wait to see you, princess